Relativity to Pact with FilmNation for Foreign Sales

Relativity to Pact with FilmNation for Foreign Sales

Glen Basner’s FilmNation Entertainment and Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media are in final talks toward a long-term exclusive international sales and distribution deal. This will make it easier for Relativity going forward as it looks to acquire more titles at Sundance, Berlin and beyond. FilmNation is set to oversee international sales and distribution of Relativity titles, yet to be announced.

The two companies are already working together on Relativity/Universal’s Sanctum from James Cameron, which FilmNation is selling overseas.

On Relativity’s 2011 slate are current release Season of the Witch, starring Nic Cage, followed by Take Me Home Tonight, starring Topher Grace and Anna Faris (March 4), smart-drug thriller Limitless, starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro (March 18) and an untitled David R. Ellis 3D shark thriller (September 2). CEO Ryan Kavanaugh probably wishes he had released The Fighter as well, which went to Paramount on a first-look deal before Relativity’s North American distribution company was up and running. (I interview Kavanaugh here.)

Company: Film NationKnown for: New York-based foreign sales company launched in 2008 with no domestic ties; the L.A- based production side is looking to make two to three films a year. Early last year, Film Nation acquired GreenStreet’s sales unit, GreeneStreet Films International. They are selling foreign on films in the $10-$40 million range; have made mark with horror and suspense titles; expanding plate of genres.Key player: CEO Glen Basner, who helped to build Focus International and the Weinstein Co.‘s international arm.Past Release: Devil has made $11 million abroad so far; Europe and Asia are left to open.AFM Agenda: Exclusive sales company for Media Rights Capital and Samuels Media, Film Nation sells projects non-exclusively for Endgame Entertainment. Selling award-buzz title The King’s Speech, Terrence Malick’s next romantic drama, set in Oklahoma, starring Ben Affleck, and Scarlett Johansson starring as an alien in Jonathan Glazer’s Under Your Skin as well as remaining rights for Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I Live In. Also selling its own films: James McTiegue’s The Raven starring John Cusack as Edgar Allen Poe and Newmarket co-production Bull Rush.

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